Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-15
NOTHING TO TAKE BACK.
COMMISSIONER SPARKS ON AFFAIRS
OF THE LAND OFFICE.

Reformation of the Land Laws Recon-
mended as the Only Cure for Present
Evils-CapitaI City Notes.
WASHINGTON CITY Oct. 1j.-Commission-
er Sparks, of the general land Office, has sub
mtted to the secretary of the interior his an-
nual report for the fiscal year ended June 80.
1857. He says he has no word to recall that
has hitherto been uttered touching the ag-
gravated Interpretations to which public
lands have been subjected through improvi-
dent laws and inefficient methods of admins
tration, and to which they are still exposed
under present wastefu and fraud-inspiring
systems of disposal. "The operations" con-
tinues the report, "of the past year, as pre-
viously, have been conducted under the
Encouragement of inadequate appropria-
tions; but with the limited means
at my disposal results have been
achieved that confirm the early statements
of the vasfness of this field of reform, the con-
fines only of which have yet been fairly ex-
plored." During the year the total number
of acres OF land restored to the public do
main was 81, S24, 4Sl, and of railroad lands
recommended for recovery, and with cases
pending, there are 9, 439, 400 acres. The sales,
entries and selections OF public lands EN-.
brace %, III, 40l acres, and of Indian lands,
746, ISL acres, making total of ., SIS, 0Ss
acres, being an increase over the year 1856
of 1888, Al acres The receipts from the dis :
posals of public lands were slo, 7Si, 922; from
sales of Indian lands, 81 ,4S4 312-a total of
Si2, 26S 224, being an increase as compared
with the year 1856 Of s., 247, 721, to which
is to be added s., 29l received on account of
timber depredations, and Sl2, 49S received for
certified copies OF records furnished by the
general land Office, making the total receipts
for the year from all sources ST., 2s9, COS.
The commissioner renews his former rec
ommendation that forfeiture be declared i'll
all cases in which land grant railroads We're
not completed within the time and in the
manner conditioned in the respective grants.
The investigation of fraudulent land en-
tries, he says, has been satisfactorily con-
Quoted. As A result Of the Investigations
$40, 900 acres were held for cancellation and
$50, 900 were cancelled for fraud. Ten hun
dred and eleven cases OF depreiations or tim
Der trsspass were reported upon, and the to-
tai amount actually recovered TO the govern
ment during the year through Judgment,
fines sales of timber, and compromises was
Sl2S, 642, being S55, 642 in excess of the appro-
priation--nearly all of which was recovered the
first half of the fiscal year The recommend
ations heretofore made by the land Office and
which have been strongly urged by the forest
commissioners of California, Colorado and
other states, are that all exclusively timber
lands of the United States be segregated
from the area of disposable lands aud re-
served from general entry This, the com
step to be taken if forest lands are to be pro
tected by the government Permanent for
est reservations should then be established
where necessary and suitable measures
adopted in respect to the disposal of the re
mander Of reforms in the public land
laws, the commissioner says:
All efforts to secure a reform in the land laws
by repeal or amendment of particular acts ana
provisions have failed through the opposition oil
interests at variance with proposed legislation !
am satisfied that amend ments in detail are i'm
practicable. The time for tnkering has passed
Existing systems of disposa, fundamentally de
fectfve in the original instance, have become
wholly unsuited TO present conditions. What is
needed in my opinion is an entire reformation OF
existing laws, retaining absolute homestead
law and abolishing all other forms of disposal OF
agricultural lands Actual residence improve
five years should be the exclusive condition Of
acquiring title to such lands 1t would also ap-
pear that the time has arrived when the privilege
of appropriating public lands should be confined
TO citizens of the United States
The mineral laws should be so amended as Il
preserve the public right OF mineral exploration
10 citizens of the United States and to prevent a
monopoly of native mineral wealth by individ
uals and CORPORATIONS | know of no good rea
.I.N-.
son should not be regardedas fair distribution OF
the mineral priv lege, leaving equal rights 10 all
other persons. EXlstin: laws do MT specifically
restrict mineral entries to adult persons and en-
tTynen have heretofore never been required to
state that they were of an age to make them
capable in law to enter into contracts There is
reason to believe that mineral entries have been
made in the names of infants in fact. as well a.
by iEfauts-in law The exhaustion of surface de.
posts have rendered the provisions OF law au-
thorizing placer mineral entries of little or nc
present or prospective utility. These provisions
and the provisions for miil-site entries are per
verified to the seizure of town sites and for fraud
ulently securing a monopoly of water rights in
arid regions. Both are made the instruments of
abuse, and neither serve any good public pur
pose Both should be repealed.
The commissioner recommends consider
able increase in the force OF bis office lie
asks for twenty additional special examiners
A careful computation of the additional
force needed to bring up work in arrears and
to keep up with the increasing current bust
ness of the office calls for an addition of ljA
regular and ll2 temporary clerks This force
is estimated to be necessary to keep the work
going The enlarged force estimated for is
needed to bring up work iii arrears. The re,
port concluded as follows:
There has been no period since 1870 or earlier
when the clerical force of the general land office
was equal or nearly equal to the work before it
The time has come when it is absolutely essential
that more adequate provision be made. 1t is my
duty to represent truthfuly to congress the need
of the Office and TO leave with that body the re
spOnsibility OF providing or refusing the necessa
ry means to carry on this important branch Of
the public service